D.C. Code tit. 8 § 8-231.11

Work practice standards.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/2/2026
effective 10/12/2026District of ColumbiaRRP

Operative Text

D.C. Code tit. 8 § 8-231.11
(a) Any owner, individual, or business entity conducting any lead-based paint activity, or demolition, renovation, remodeling, painting, carpentry, plumbing, or other activity, that may generate lead-based paint chips, dust, or other lead-based paint debris, in or on the exterior of a dwelling unit or child-occupied facility, built prior to 1978, shall use lead-safe work practices.

(b) In addition, any owner, individual, or business entity shall:

(1) Comply with the following work practice standards, as applicable:

(A) Work practice standards in 40 C.F.R. § 745.226 and 40 C.F.R. § 745.227, or any successor regulation of EPA;

(B) U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards relating to lead, including those standards found at 29 C.F.R. § 1926.62 and 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1025, and any successor regulations;

(C) HUD Methods and Standards for Lead-Paint Hazard Evaluation and Hazard Activities contained in Chapter 35 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and any successor regulations; and

(D) Any other standards required by the Mayor by rule;

(2) Conform with the prohibition of unsafe practices listed at 24 C.F.R. § 35.140;

(3) Prevent paint dust, chips, debris, or residue from being dispersed onto adjacent property or increasing the risk of public exposure to lead-based paint; and

(4) Adhere to other requirements for renovations listed at 40 C.F.R. §§ 745.80 through 745.91 and any other requirements established by the Mayor.

(c) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to the following:

(1) Individuals who perform lead-based paint activities in residences that they own; provided, that the residence is occupied by the owner or the owner’s immediate family, and there is no person at risk residing therein; and

(2) Performance of maintenance, repair, or renovation work involving lead-based paint that results in disturbances of lead-based paint in a total of 2 square feet or less of surface area per room, except for window removal or replacement.

(d) No person shall cause paint dust, chips, debris, or residue to be dispersed onto adjacent property or increase the risk of public exposure to lead-based paint.

(e) Within 180 days from March 31, 2009, the Mayor shall issue rules establishing comprehensive safe work practice standards and training requirements in conformance with this section.

(f) (1) A clearance examination following elimination of a lead-based paint hazard ordered by the Mayor, or after such work performed in response to a child with an elevated blood lead level, shall not be conducted by:

(A) A risk assessor or lead inspector who is related to the owner or any tenant by blood or marriage;

(B) A risk assessor or lead inspector who is an employee or owner of the abatement firm performing the work;

(C) A risk assessor or lead inspector who is an employee or owner of an entity in which the abatement firm has a financial interest; or

(D) A dust sampling technician.

(2) In all other situations where a clearance examination is required under this subchapter, the clearance examination may be performed by a lead inspector, dust sampling technician, or risk assessor, whether or not employed by the owner.

(g) Within 90 days of March 31, 2009, the Mayor shall establish certification requirements for the profession of dust sampling technician. The requirements shall include the successful completion of the appropriate course accredited by EPA under 40 C.F.R. § 745.225.

(h) All renovation work shall conform to such additional requirements as may be issued by the Mayor by rule.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

D.C. Code § 8-231.11 establishes that anyone—owner, individual, or business—who performs work on pre-1978 dwellings or child-occupied facilities that could disturb lead-based paint must follow lead-safe work practices and comply with a layered set of federal and local standards, including EPA, OSHA, and HUD regulations. The rule prohibits dispersing paint dust, chips, or debris onto adjacent property or increasing public exposure to lead. Limited exemptions exist for owner-occupants working in their own homes (with no at-risk residents present) and for very small disturbances of two square feet or less per room, excluding window work. Clearance examinations after hazard elimination are subject to strict conflict-of-interest rules governing who may conduct them.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under D.C. Code § 8-231.11, property owners who hire or directly perform renovation, remodeling, painting, plumbing, carpentry, or demolition work on pre-1978 buildings are generally expected to ensure that all workers use lead-safe work practices and comply with the referenced EPA, OSHA, and HUD federal standards, as well as any additional rules issued by the Mayor. Compliant operators typically verify that contractors are appropriately certified, take steps to contain dust and debris so it does not spread to neighboring properties, and arrange clearance examinations conducted by qualified, conflict-free inspectors after lead hazard elimination work. Keeping documentation of work practices, contractor certifications, and clearance results is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate compliance with this provision.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

D.C. Code § 8-231.11 gives tenants in pre-1978 dwellings and child-occupied facilities a basis to expect that any renovation or repair work that could disturb lead-based paint will be carried out using lead-safe practices and will not spread dust, chips, or debris into shared or adjacent spaces. If a tenant believes work in their building is being performed without these safeguards—for example, if visible dust or debris is spreading beyond the work area—they may consider documenting the conditions and reaching out to the District's relevant housing or environmental enforcement authorities. Tenant-rights organizations in the District can help residents understand how this provision interacts with other lead-safety protections and what complaint or enforcement options may be available to them.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 12, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

40 C.F.R. § 745.226
Not yet ingested
40 C.F.R. § 745.227
Not yet ingested
29 C.F.R. § 1926.62
Not yet ingested
29 C.F.R. § 1910.1025
Not yet ingested
24 C.F.R. § 35.140
Not yet ingested
40 C.F.R. § 745.225
Not yet ingested

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

D.C. Code § 8-231.03
D.C. Code § 8-231.03
D.C. Code § 8-231.10
D.C. Code § 8-231.11
D.C. Code § 8-231.15
D.C. Code § 8-231.16
D.C. Code § 8-231.01

Related Rules

§ 745.323
§ 745.323 Definitions.
§ 745.326
§ 745.326 Renovation: State and Tribal program requirements.
§ 35.140
§ 35.140 Prohibited methods of paint removal.

Source Information

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